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By Melissa Tanji MAUI, Hawaii (The Maui News, Jan. 23, 2010) – Haiku resident William Vitarelli carved a koa wood bowl while making a Christmas present for a family member in December 2004. He was 94 at the time. He died at home on Jan. 19.

Vitarelli, an educator, architect and community organizer, was 99.

Vitarelli, also known as "Vit" or "Rubak," died at his home with hospice care Tuesday, family members said.

[PIR editor’s note: Vitarelli served as an educational administrator and community developer in Palau, Guam, Yap, Saipan, and the Marshall Islands for over twenty-five years. Aside from a number of economic and educational projects he supported in Palau, one of Vitarelli’s major contributions to Palau was his position as the special advisor to the Belau Modekngei School, an indigenous institution established to preserve traditional skills and values. In addition, he created a printing press and furniture factory...

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (Marianas Business Journal, Jan. 28, 2010) – The effort to attract foreign captive insurance companies to the Federated States of Micronesia met with some success recently as, during the fourth quarter of 2009, the nation registered its first captive. In addition, a second company is proceeding with its efforts to establish a captive. And the country recently enacted a law permitting the formation of multiple corporate captives, the third class of such companies now permitted under FSM law.

[PIR editor’s note: Captive insurance is a form of insurance that allows private companies, or groups of companies, to essentially insure themselves, as an alternative to more costly external insurance policies.]

In 2005, the FSM issued a request for proposal for a corporate-registration advisor to entice Japanese corporations to register in the FSM. Micronesia Registration...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 28, 2010) – Palau has accepted a US$250 million aid package from the United States, insisting there is no link with Palau hosting six inmates whom the US had held at its detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.

Palau’s President, Johnson Toribiong, made the announcement as members of the Palau and US Compact Review Advisory Group met in Hawaii to sign the deal, which covers the former US Trust Territory from 2010 to 2024.

He says he has decided that the time has come for Palau to negotiate a final deal on the basis of the last offer.

Under the original Compact of Free Association between Washington and Palau, which became independent in 1994, direct assistance was supposed to end this year, with a trust fund providing future income.

[PIR editor’s note: According to Radio Australia, Palau had earlier refused an offer from the U.S. of $156 million.]...

"As a dedicated advocate of traditional and cultural preservation and promotion of our island heritages, I have always applauded the state of Yap in its strong stance on the maintenance and expression of your cultural heritages as demonstrated in the observation of Yap Day through the years" Kesolei said.

She further extended congratulations to the governor and the people of Yap for their effort in promoting their culture as she looks forward to attending her first Yap Day celebrations.

The annual Yap Day event will take place on March 1 and will be hosted by the municipality of Tomil.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.